Hinged guide-roller banks for confining continuously cast slabs



c. H. BoDE, .JR 3,528,488 HINGED GUIDE-ROLLER BANKS FOR CONFININGCONTINUOUSLY CAST SLABS .4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 15, 1970 Filed Feb. 27,1968 w.. C d mw Mw 9 4.www wm w INM mm -if-f--fv U 1 Allume! Sept. l5,19,70 c. H. BoDE, JR

HINGED GUIDE-ROLLER BANKS FOR CONFINING GONTIN'UOUSLY GAST sLABs .4Sheets-Sheet' 2 Filed Feb. 27, 1968 Sept. l5, 1970 c. H. BODE, JR

HINGED GUIDE-ROLLER BANKS FOR CONFINING CONTINUOUSLY CAST SLABS FiledFeb. 27 1968 .4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Char/as H. Bade Ja Sept. 15, 1970 c. H.BODE, JR

HINGED GUIDE-ROLLER BANKS FOR CONFINING coNTmuousLY CAST sLABs .4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 27, 1968 INVENTOR Char/as H. 60de Jn Arme.

United States Patent O 3,528,488 HINGED GUIDE-ROLLER BANKS FOR CONFINING CONTINUOUSLY CAST SLABS Charles H. Bode, Jr., Upper St. ClairTownship, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to United States SteelCorporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 27, 1968, Ser. No.708,684 Int. Cl. B22d 11/12 U.S. Cl. 164-282 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Guide rollers between the mold and pinch rolls of acontinuous slab-casting apparatus are journaled on spaced box frameshinged to and extending between a pair of supporting columns. Back-uprollers are mounted on the frames to prevent deection of the guiderollers. Nozzle frames hinged to the outer faces of the box frames mountmanifolds from which cooling-spray nozzles extend between adjacent guiderollers. The hinge pins of the box frames fit eccentrically in cylindersrotatable in suitable bearings which may be adjusted to change the clearspace between opposed banks of guide rollers. Manually releasable latchmeans on the side of the box frames opposite the hinges, normally holdsthe frames in closed or operative position. The frames when closed abutstops which may be changed to vary the clear space between the opposedbanks of guide rollers.

This invention relates to apparatus for continuously casting slabs ofsteel and, in particular, to the mounting of the guide rollers forconfining the cast slab as it descends below the tubular, flow-throughmold usually employed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the continuous casting of slabs, it iscustomary to employ, below the tubular flow-through mold, amolddischarge rack having rollers thereon to conne the casting skinagainst break-out under the ferrostatic head of the molten center. Aguide roller rack below the molddischarge rack serves a similar functionwhile cooling water is sprayed on the casting. Maintenance andadjustment of these portions of the apparatus have been difticult andtime-consuming. It is accordingly the object of my invention to providea guide-roller rack capable of opening up for easy access which isquickly removable if replacement should be indicated. Ease of adjustmentto slabs of different dimensions is a further objective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment, I providehorizontally spaced supporting columns with vertically spaced box framesextending therebetween. The frames are hinged to one of the columns andhave banks of guide rollers journaled thereon to engage the sides of theslab. Nozzle frames are hinged to the box frames and are provided withheaders from which spray nozzles extend between the guide rollers.Back-up rollers for the guide rollers are also journaled on the boxframes. Manually operable latch means normally hold the box frames inclosed or operating position but may be retracted to permit them toswing out for easy access. The hinge pins are journaled eccentrically inadjustable bearings. Adjustment of the bearings varies the clear spacebetween the rollers of spaced opposed banks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A complete understanding of theinvention may be obtained from the following detailed description andexplanation which refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating thepresent preferred embodiment. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the general arrangement of acontinuous slab-casting facility;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of my improved structure showing the casting inhorizontal section;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the columns showing the boxframes hinged thereto;

FIG. 4 is a vertical central section through the box frames and thebanks of guide rollers;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 to enlarged scale showing furtherdetails;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of one of the hinges for the guide-roller frames;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line VII-VII of FIG.6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of details showing the mounting of the nozzleheaders on the nozzle frames with a part in section;

FIG. 9 is an end view of FIG. 7 with parts broken away; and

FIG. 10 is a section through the door latch taken along the plane ofline X-X of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to thedrawings and, for the moment, patricularly to FIG. l, a continuouscasting plant for producing slabs, incorporating my invention, comprisesa mold 10, supported on reciprocating means 11, and a ladle or tundish(not shown) supported thereabove for teeming molten metal into the mold.Below the mold, roller racks 12 confine the descending casting C anddeliver it into guide-roller racks 13 which perform a similar functionwhile the casting is being cooled by water sprays. It is these racks andsprays to which my invention relates. After leaving the racks 13, thecasting proceeds through pinch rolls 14, bending rolls 15 and a curvedguide-roller rack or conveyor 16, from which the casting is delivered onthe horizontal for further processing.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, each guide roller rack 13 comprises a pairof spaced opposed fabricated box frames 17 extending between spacedcolumns 18 and hinged to one of them as shortly to be described indetail. The columns have shoulder 18a by which they are carried onbuilding girders G. Each frame 17 includes a face plate and spray shield19 and horizontal stitfener ribs 20 welded thereto. A bank ofcasting-confining rollers 21 is mounted on plate 19, the rollers beingjournaled in bearings 22 secured to the plate. A plurality of back-uprollers 23 are mounted in spaced relation across plate 19 for eachadjacent pair of rollers 21. Rollers 23 are journaled in bearings 24,also secured to plate 19.

Hinge brackets 25 are spaced along opposite sides of columns 18. Hingeblocks 26 project laterally of frames 17 and coact with the brackets byvirtue of hinge `bolts 27 extending therethrough and through bearingbushings 28 fitting in a bore in the blocks 26. As shown in FIGS. 5 and6, bolts 27 extend through eccentric holes in cylinders 28a fitted inbushings 28. Thus, by rotating the cylinders in the bearings, thespacing of the hinge axis from columns 18 is thereby adjusted.

On the side of frames 17 opposite blocks 26, latch jaws 29 are secured.The columns 18 are slotted as at 30 (see FIG. 10) to admit a portion ofthe jaws. On opposite sides of the slots, spacer blocks 31 arereplaceably mounted, adapted to be engaged by the outer portion of thejaws. Similar spacer blocks 32 on the other side of the columns areadapted to be engaged by lugs 33 projecting the frames. The thickness ofthe spacer blocks is correlated with the adjustment of eccentricbearings 28.

Locking dogs 34 verticaly bridging slots 30 are actuable on columns 18toward and from jaws 29 for wedging engagement therewith, when theframes are in closed or operating position, by screws 35 extendingthrough bearings 36 afiixed to the webs of the columns and provided withadjusting nuts. When dogs 34 are retracted as shown in dot-and-dashlines, frames 17 may lbe swung wide like a door or Casement, as shown indot-and-dash lines, for inspecting or maintenance. By removal of bolts27, furthermore, any frame may be completely removed and a replacementframe installed.

Screws 37 threaded vertically through blocks 38 attached to columns 18engage jaws 29 from below to raise and level the frame 17 and take upany sag permitted by clearances in the hinges when the frame is inclosed position. Proper thickness shims are inserted between the jaws 29and the blocks 38 and the bolt 37 is then lowered. Bolts 39 extendingthrough a flange of columns 18 are threaded into lugs 40 projecting fromlugs 33. These bolts must be removed to open up frames 17 and serve totake up any looseness when they are closed.

Spray-nozzle frames 41 of angle-iron construction are hinged to frames17 at 42 for swinging movement outwardly therefrom. Manually releasablelatch pins 43 normally hold frames 41 in closed-up position relative toframes 17. Cooling fluid manifolds 44 are mounted on frames 41 and arefitted with a plurality of spray nozzles 45 of sufiicient length toproject through holes in plate 19 and between rollers 22 so as todischarge cooling jets between rollers 21 on to the casting C. Plates 19confine the cooling water between opposed frames 17. Spray-nozzles 46extend through holes in the webs of columns 18 spaced along the heightthereof and have connections to a cooling-water supply. These nozzlesdischarge sprays on the edges of slab C.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 8 and 9, the vertical pipes 48 ofmanifolds 44 have bars 49 welded thereto. Plates 50 welded to bars 49have rollers 50a journaled thereon. These rollers travel in ways 51mounted on lengths of channel section 52 extending normal to the planeof frames 41 and secured to the side members thereof. Thus the manifolds44 may be moved away from frames 17 to retract the nozzles sufficientlyto permit swinging frames 41 on their hinges. The manifolds are held innormal position by locking dogs 53 having notches 53a adapted to engagethe flanges of angle bars 54 secured to channel sections S2. Dogs 53 areliftable relative to bars 49 by virtue of pins 55 on the dogs riding inslots 56 in the bars. Lift rods 57 connect the dogs at opposite sides ofeach frame 41. Dogs S3 also have notches 53b to engage angle =bars 54when the manifolds have been retracted.

Roller-s 50a are confined in ways 51 by plates 58 bridging the endsthereof and removably secured by screws. On removal of these screws andplates, the manifold 44 may be freely withdrawn from its supportingframe 41.

It will be evident that my improved construction of guide-roller rackprovides adequate strength to resist the larger forces applied theretoyet permits easy opening and ready access for adjustment andmaintenance.

Although I have disclosed herein the preferred embodiment of myinvention, I intend to cover as well any 4 change or modificationtherein which may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for guiding a casting descending from a flow-through moldcomprising spaced columns standing on two opposite sides of the path ofthe casting, hinge brackets spaced vertically along the columns, a pairof opposed box frames substantially filling the space between thecolumns on the other two opposite sides of the path, respectively, hingebrackets spaced vertically on said columns, hinge blocks projectinglaterally from one side of each frame and pivotally connected to saidbrackets, whereby said frames are swingable from closed to openposition, cooperating latch means on said columns and frames on thesides thereof opposite the hinge blocks, and a plurality of horizontalcasting-confining rollers journaled in verticaly spaced relation on theadjacent faces of said frames, defining said path.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by said latch meansincluding a keeper block on the other side of each frame having a notchin its outer face, a latch bar on the other column reciprocable from aposition in which it enters said notch to a position where it clearssaid frame on swinging movement thereof, and manually operable meanseffective to actuate said bar from one position to another.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by back-up rollersjournaled on said frames engaging adjacent pairs of casting-confiningrollers.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by nozzle frameshinged to the outer side of said box frames, manifolds mounted on saidnozzle frames and nozzles extending from said manfiolds between adjacentcastingconfining rollers.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, characterized by said nozzle frameseach having a pair of ways extending normal to the plane thereof, saidmanifolds having means movable on said ways permitting bodily movementof the manifolds relative to the nozzle frames.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by lugs projectinglaterally from the side edges of said box frames and abutments on saidcolumns adapted to be engaged by said lugs when said frames are latchedin closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,453 12/ 1936 Wheeler 72-238X 3,318,368 5/1967 Lemper 164-283 X 3,438,425 4/ 1969 Butkevich et al.164-282 X FOREIGN PATENTS 680,036 2/ 1964 Canada. 719,632 10/ 1965Canada.

R. S. ANNEAR, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3,528,488 September 15 1970 Charles H. Bode, Jr.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column Z, lines 12 to 15, Cancel "FIG. 6 is a plan View of one of thehinges for the guide-roller frames FIG. 7 is a sectional View takenalong the plane of line VII-VII of FIG. 6;" and insert FIG` 6 is avertical section taken along the plane of line VI-VI of PIG. 7;

FIG 7 is a plan View of one of the hinges for the guide-roller frames;

Signed and sealed this 6th day of April 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

